1946 - 2018
Rob was a true gentle man with his firm handshake and confident demeanor you couldn’t help but feel his outgoing and warm personality. He will be remembered as a life-long friend of almost everyone he ever met. Rob could tell a story or a joke as well as anyone, was an accomplished pianist, golfer and overall outdoorsman. You could find Rob outside most days whether it was working on the farm, golfing on beautiful courses near and far, fishing, scuba diving or just enjoying the world with friends and family. Rob loved Daylight Savings Time, giving him more opportunities to be outdoors.
Rob’s life work as a dentist brought beautiful smiles to so many and made a difference in the lives of some of the less fortunate, making numerous trips to Mexico to provide dental services to remote villages.
He loved his community, both in Gatesville and Midland -- enjoying traveling and camaraderie with many friends and colleagues including several of his more notable groups (The world famous Open Roaders, Monday night football crew, Midland Country Club golf buddies, and PIGS) He had a lifelong love affair with deviled eggs, queso, ribs, Mary Emma’s spaghetti sauce, buttermilk pie and oatmeal crispies. Rob’s Rib Rub was his specialty, you knew if he gave you a jar you were on his “A” list. He took the recipe to his grave. Rob traveled the world extensively, always saying to Mary Emma “can you believe two little kids from Gatesville, Texas are standing right here? We’ve come a long way baby!”
He loved his family, particularly his high school sweetheart Mary Emma whom he chased for over 56 years. When she was unsure of something which was rare, he encouraged her with these simple words “you can do it Mary Emma.”
The world is a better place because Rob was in it. He will be deeply missed.
Robert Allen Bennett was born on October 16, 1946 in Temple Texas, the oldest of four children born to the late Allen Robert Bennett and Vivian Belle Edds Bennett.
He grew up in Gatesville Texas, attending public schools, playing multiple sports, attending First Baptist Church, participating in Boy Scouts where he attained Order of the Arrow. He graduated valedictorian in the class of ‘65 and lettered in football, baseball and track.
He attended SMU in Dallas, Texas where he was All Southwest Conference as a freshman football player while always making the Dean’s List. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at Baylor College of Dentistry. From 1973, he served 2 years active duty as a Naval officer at the dental clinic at NAS-JAX. He was Navy reserve for 4 more years and was honorably discharged in 1979.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Emma Moorhead, on August 17, 1968. They had two children: Allen Robert and Amanda Clare.
In 1975, he and Loren Bryant established a dental practice in Midland Texas, retiring in 2014. He was President of West Texas Chapter of the Texas Dental Society.
Robert Allen Bennett died on September 29, 2018 after a very brief struggle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife Mary Emma, son Allen and wife Melony, granddaughter Kaitlyn Tucker and husband Ben, granddaughter Madison Bennett, and Great Grandsons Beau and Hank Tucker, sisters Donna Neal, Barbara Hinton and husband Marks, Elizabeth Beard and dear friend Jim Bennett along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents Vivian and Allen Bennett, his daughter Amanda, his in-laws Elna and Newt Moorhead, brother in-law Kerry Moorhead and his niece Kimberly Neal.
There will be a Celebration of Life at Levita Bible Fellowship, 4460 FM 930, Levita, at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 2.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 3, 6 -8 pm at Ellis Funeral Home, 801 Andrews Highway, Midland.
The funeral will be at First Baptist Church, 2104 W. Louisiana, Midland at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 4. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park, 4616 N. Big Spring St, Midland.
Contributions can be made to Levita Bible Fellowship, 4460 FM 930, Gatesville, TX 76528 or Boys and Girls Club, 2533 E Main St, Gatesville, TX 76528.
